Egg crate top holder



May 2, 1933. R. A. SWANSQN EGG CRATE TOP HOLDER Original Filed Aug. 8, 1929 Patented -May 2, 1933 UNETED STATES recent REYNOLD A. SWANSON, OF MONTROSE, SOUTH DAKOTA EGG CRATE TOP HOLDER Application filed August 8, 1929, Serial No. 384,380 Renewed July 10, 1931.

lhis invention relates to a holding means in the form of a clamping device, andwhlle the same may have various applications, 1t particularly is designed for holding the cover of an egg crate.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, eggs are now commonly packed in crates of rectangular shape having two compartments in which the fillers and eggs are placed. A

cover in the form of a flat board is placed over the top of the crate and fastened thereto. A

cleat is commonly provided on the crate extending transversely thereof at each end adjacent the top of the crate. It has heretofore 5 been the common practice to nail on the covers or fasten them in various other ways so that it is more or less diflicult to remove the cover and the cover is usually destroyed.

It is an object of this invention, therefore,

to provide a simple and eficient holding means for a cover which is adapted to be easily and quickly placed in position and to be easily and quickly removed so that the cover can be removed and is not damaged.

t is a further object of the invention to provide such a holding means having a flat plate-like portion adapted to overlie the top of the cover and another portion adapted to engage beneath a cleat which is commonly secured to the end of the crate and extends transversely of the same adjacent the top thereof, resilient clamping means being provided which when the device is in position holds the plate-like portion tightly down on 5 the top of the cover thus clamping the same firmly in position.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a holding means for a crate cover comprising a plate member adapted to engage the cover and lie flat thereon, and having means extending down at one end of the crate together with means engag ing beneath the cleat at the end of the crate cooperating with a resilient means to clamp said plate member tightly down on the cover and hold the same in position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to similar parts through the several views, and in which Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation showing a portion of the crate and cover with the device applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on lin 2 2 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows showing the fasteners at each end of the crate;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the 6g clamping lever used;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of one element of the device, and

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of the device shown in 5.

Referring to the drawing, a holding means for a crate cover is illustrated applied to a crate and while the crate may take various forms, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as havingthe vertical end members 10 to which are secured at their outer sides transversely extending cleats 11 which are adjacent-the top of said sides and have their top surfaces substantially flush with the tops of said sides. The cover 12 is shown as in the form of a flat board or plate.

The clamping or holding device comprises a plate 13 having a flat top portion 13a which is rectangular in shape and has several teeth 13?) formed thereon and bent downwardly as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Said plate 13 has an end portion extending at an angle slightly less than a right angle to portion 8 13a and adapted to project downwardly at one end of the crate as shown in Fig. 1. This portion 130 has extensions 1365 which at their lower ends are curved inwardly to form the eyelets or sleeves 136. A rod 1 1 of resilient material extends through and be tween the portions 13d having its outer ends somewhat turned so as to beheld securely in position. A lever 15 is provided having its upper end curved into slightly more than semi-circular form, the upper concave portion being provided with a plurality of parallel grooves 150. forming a plurality of ribs, the same extending parallel with the sides of the lever. Lever 15 has an aperture 15?) formed therein, the same being in the form of an oblong slot, the end surfaces of which are inclined at an angle to the fiat sides of lever 15. The lower portion of lever 15 is somewhat curved to form a handle. Lever 15 is disposed on red 1%, the latter passing through the slot 15?) and coiled springs 16 are disposed at either side of lever 15 on said rod 1%, the same being under some compression. v

In operation the cover will be laid on top of the crate as shown in Fig. 2 and lever 15 will be swung to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The device will then be placed in position with plate 13 having its side 13c fiat against the edge of cover 12 and the top portion 13a extending over the top of the cover. Lever 15 is then disposed below the cleat 11. The lever is then swung to the left as shown in Fig. 1 to the full line position. When the lever is in the dotted line position as shown in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the ends of slot 15?) are substantially parallel to the sides of rod l l. As the lever is swung to the full line position, the ends of the slot move out of this parallel relation andthe lever pushes against rod i l and the unc er surface of plate 11. This springs rod let downwardly slightly and straightens out plate 13 which is resilient to the right angular form shown in Fig. 2. The lever 15 is swung slightly past the vertical position so that it will remain in position without any securing means. The springs 16 are provided to keep lever 15 at a point adjacent the center of the space between extensions 13d. The lever is loose on rod 1% and if it were not for these springs it might be disposed too much to one side and place undue stress on rod ll. lVit-h the lever in the full line position shown in Fig. l the device is in clamp-- ing position, cover 12 is clamped very firmly and securely down onto the crate and the device will remain securely in its clampin position. As stated, lever 15 swings past its clamping position and there is no tendency for it to swing back. The teeth 1% bite down into the top of the cover insuring a lirm grip thereon and the ribs on the top of lever 15 make a firm engagement with the bottom of cleat 11. Then it is desired to remove the cover the lever 15 is mere swung back to the dotted line position shown in 1 and the device, including plate 13 can then be lifted oil and the cover 12 re moved. The cover will not be'ncticeably damaged and can be used repeatedly.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very simple and eflicicnt holding means for a crate cover. The device is simple in construction and can be easily and inexpensively made. The same can be very quickly applied and will hold the cover firmly in position until it is removed. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and eliicient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be'made in the form, details, proportions and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the novel parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

lVhat is claimed is l. A device for holding a crate cover on a crate, which crate has. a cleat adjacent its top comprising a swinging means engaging the lower edge of said cleat, a member adapted to extend over and lie on the top of said cover and to extend below said clea't, and resilient means adapted to be placed under tension by said swinging means tending to draw said member and said cleat together to cause said device to remain in position and clamp said cover in place. 7 I

2..A device for holding crate covers on crates, which crates have a cleat adjacent their tops comprising a member adapted to engage the cover and to extend in contiguous relation to said cleat, a clamping member engaging the bottom ot' said cleat and means supporting said clamping member and mcluding a resilient elementplaced under tension by said clamping memberfor clamping said member tightly down on the cover and against said cleat and holding the cover in position.

3. A device for holding a crate cover on a crate, comprising a member having means adapted to engage the cover of the crate and means extending at an angle to said first mentioned means and adapted toeXtend along a side of the crate below the cover, and a swinging means, engaging said means extending along a side of the crate and adapted to en gage a portion of the crate a side thereoI, for drawing said member tightly down on said cover. I

d. The combination with a crate having a cover, of devices for holding said cover on said crate, comprising a pair of members each having means adapted to engage the cover of the crate and integral means extending at an angle toqsaid first mentioned means, said integral means being adapted to extend along opposite sides of said crate-1n contiguous relation to a portion thereoit, and a plurality of swinging means, one engagmgeach oi said integral means, for drawing said members tightly down on said cover.

5. A device for hol ling a crate cover on a crate comprising a member having means adapted to engage the top of the crate, said member being of resilient material and having means extending at an angle to said first mentioned means'adapted to extend along the end of the crate, a swinging means adapted to engage a portion of the crate at the end thereof and draw said first mentioned means tightly down on said cover to cause said first two mentioned means to be disposed substantially at a right angle to each other whereby said cover is clamped in posit-ion.

6. A device for holding a crate cover on a crate comprising, a resilient plate having a portion adapted to engage the top of said cover and a portion adapted to extend downwardly at the end of the crate and making an angle with said first mentioned portion slightly less than a right angle, a clamping lever carried by said last mentioned portion adapted to engage a portion of the crate at the end thereof and spring said plate to bring the portion thereof substantially at right angles with said top portion pressed down tightly on said cover.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, means for holding said lever in central position relative to said second mentioned portion, said lever being adapted to be swung past dead center to remain in clamping position.

8. A device for holding a crate cover on a crate which crate has a cleat extending transversely at its end adjacent the top thereof having in combination, a plate having a portion adapted to extend over the top of said cover and a portion adapted to extend downwardly at the end of said cleat having spaced projections at its ends, a resilient rod carried on said projections, a lever carried on said rod and having a slot with its ends inclined to the sides of said lever through which said rod passes, said lever adapted to engage he bottom of said cleat and be swung laterally to spring said rod and draw the first mentioned portion of said plate down tightly on said cover whereby said cover is clamped into position.

9. A device for holding a crate cover on a crate which crate has a cleat extending transversely at its end adjacent its top having in combination, a plate of resilient material having a flat portion adapted to extend over and engage the top of said cover, a portion disposed at an angle to said first mentioned portion of slightly less than a right angle and adapted to extend down at the end of said crate, said latter portion having spaced project-ions with sleeves at the end thereof, a resilient rod carried in said sleeves and extending between said portions, a lever of fiat material having a slot therethrough adjacent one end with the ends of said slot inclined to the flat sides of said lever, said lever being curved at its upper end to engage the bottom of said cleat, said rod extending through said slot whereby said lever can be swung laterally to spring said rod and said plate to cause the portions of said plate to be disposed at a right angle to each other with said first mentioned portion firmly engaging the top of said cover.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, said lever being swingable past dead center so as to remain in clamping position and having pro ectlons at its upper end for engaglng said cleat.

11. The structure set forth in claim 9, and springs on said rod at each side of said lever for holding said lever substantially centrally between said sleeves.

12. A device for holding a crate cover on a crate which crate has a cleat extending transversely at its end adjacent its top having in combination, a plate of resilient material having a fiat portion adapted to extend over and engage the top of said cover and having means thereon to bite into said cover, said plate also having a portion disposed at an angle to said first mentioned portion of slightly less than a right angle and adapted to extend down at the end of said crate, said latter portion having spaced projections with sleeves at the end thereof, a resilient rod carried in said sleeves and extending between said portions, a lever of fiat material having aslot therethrough adjacent one end with the ends of said slot inclined to the flat sides of said lever, said lever being curved at its upper end to engage the bottom of said cleat, said rod extending through said slot whereby said lever can be swung laterally to spring said rod and said plate to cause the portions of said plate to be disposed at a right angle to each other with said first mentioned portion firmly engaging the top of said cover and means for holding said lever substantially centrally of said last mentioned portion of said plate. a

13. A cover device for holding a lid on a crate, which crate has a member and a cleat member secured to the side thereof, said device being removable from said crate and comprising means adapted to engage one of said members at spaced points, means adapted detachably to engage the other of said members substantially centrally vertically between said points, one of said means comprising spaced arms extending toward the other member and forming a support for the other means, and one of said means including a portion made of resilient wire adapted to be flexed to exert tension between said means and thus draw said cover tightly in place.

14. A. device for holding a lid on the top of a crate, which crate has a removable lid and a cleat member secured at the side thereof below and closely adjacent said top, said device being adapted to be shipped with said crate and being removable from said crate and comprising means detachably engaging the top of said lid, and spaced means extending downwardly from said means to a point below said cleat, and means carried by said last mentioned. means detachably to engage the under side of said cleat and including resilient wire adapted to be flexed to place tension on said last mentioned; means to draw said lid and cleat together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature;

RE YNOLD A. SVVANSON. 

